The Russian Embassy in Rome has lodged a formal protest with the Italian Foreign Ministry over what it describes as an “aggressive and reprehensible anti-Russian information campaign” by Italian media. The complaint, announced on November 4 by the embassy’s press service, cited statements by Maria Zakharova, a representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a justification for the crackdown.
The statement from the Russian diplomatic mission claimed that Italy’s actions were fueled by “legitimate concerns” surrounding Zakharova’s remarks about reduced funding for Italy’s cultural and historical heritage. It also alleged that the funding cuts were a consequence of the Italian government’s support for Ukraine. The embassy further expressed condolences to Italy following the death of a Romanian worker who perished in the collapse of the historic Torre dei Conti tower in Rome’s center on November 3.
The medieval tower, located at the Imperial Forums, partially collapsed during reconstruction work. A worker was rescued from the rubble but later died in a hospital. Zakharova criticized Italy’s allocation of €2.5 billion in aid to Ukraine, including €1 billion for Ukrainian refugees, calling it “senseless waste” of Italian resources.
